In a complex debate surrounding resort inside the Chocolate Hills protected area, The Ombudsman has lifted the six-month preventive suspension it imposed on several mayors and barangay officials in Bohol last May, relating to the construction of Captain’s Peak Garden and Resort at the base of the Chocolate Hills.
Ombudsman has lifted suspensions for 32 Bohol officials. Included are five mayors, regional directors from the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Philippine National Police (PNP), as part of the ongoing investigation into possible regulatory breaches in the Chocolate Hills.
Chocolate Hills, designated as a National Geological Monument in 1997, faces rigorous scrutiny over development projects. Environmental advocates like Rodne Galicha of Living Laudato Si’ Philippines stress protection: “If this is a protected area, we need to protect it,” highlighting the necessity of adhering to legal stipulations.
The situation has piqued legislative interest, with potential Senate and Congressional probes into how permits for ecologically sensitive regions like Chocolate Hills are granted. While local leaders await further discussion, the case symbolizes broader challenges in balancing environmental integrity with commercial progress.
